(A/N: Chapter 174 has been changed, it is chapter about the vision of the elf girl. She won't be Ichiro's lover after all, instead only Azura's best friend, I have heard a lot suggestions and I decided to change it, so Ichiro will have only 1 and that is Azura)

Two young men were left standing.

The black-haired young man looked carefree, while the blond-haired young man looked pale as snow.

The stadium was quiet. The spectators looked at the scene with visible anger and disappointment.

Some of the spectators have already left their seats towards the exit of the stadium.

Arkenthym snorted and stood up, ''No point watching. My slave will be the victor.''

Leppercon was scratching his head with annoyance, ''Daniel, you useless bastard!'' He stood up with anger and left with Arkenthym.

Lock was holding a dagger. He gave up on the hand-to-hand combat and decided to risk everything.

Ichiro took the first step. That alone was like a call of death!

Lock retreated a step backward, but he knew that he needed to move forwards, not backwards!

The moment he starts retreating, he will lose!

Lock took a leap of faith and started running towards Ichiro!

That decision surprised everyone in the stadium except Ichiro.

Ichiro knew that the best solution was to attack, which gives him much needed energy boost.

If he keeps retreating, Lock is literally signing his death.

Ichiro nodded with approval.

Lock appeared in the attacking range, he instantly thrusted his dagger forwards, but he is still being cautious.

While the dagger was approaching him, Ichiro pushed his sword forwards!

His sword approached the torso of Lock with terrifying speed, but the dagger should have hit Ichiro first because Lock made the first move, right?

Wrong.

The sword has a much greater range because the blade is much longer. Therefore, it will hit much sooner.

Lock paled and thought about jumping backward, but then he would be retreating!

Retreating is not an option!

He needs to make every move carefully; otherwise, he will die!

It's like they are playing a game of chess.

Lock made a split-second decision, and it was a move that should be suicidal!

He gritted his teeth and grinned viciously, ''I won't die here!''

*SPURT*

The sword pierced Lock's waist, and everyone thought it was over, but not Lock!

Lock grinned and started moving forwards while the sword was still stuck on his waist!

Ichiro widened his eyes.

Lock was only 1 meter away from Ichiro. That was more than enough! He thrusted his dagger with unbelievable speed towards Ichiro's neck.

[Silent Style - Death of Tranquility]

Ichiro didn't have time to put a sword on the way, but... Using his nose to deflect attacks isn't necessarily the most ridiculous technique in Iron Style.

Ichiro opened his mouth and bit towards the dagger!

His teeth clashed with the blade, and Lock thought his head would be split open... But the blade completely stopped!

''W-What!'' Lock screamed with disbelief.

[Iron Predator - True Predator's Bite]

Lock tried to move the dagger, but it didn't move... It even started cracking!

Ichiro bit even harder, and this time... It broke apart!

*CRACK*

Lock stumbled backward, but that was extremely painful because the blade was still stuck on his waist!

''AAHHHH!'' Lock screamed in agony.

*Spat*

Ichiro spat out the broken blade parts from his mouth.

''I hate this technique...'' He wiped his mouth and turned his gaze back to the Lock, who was still only 1 meter away from him, trying to get the sword out of his waist.

*SPURT*

Ichiro pushed the sword even deeper.

''AAAAAAAAARGHH!'' Lock cried out in agony, with final despair attempt he tried to take the sword out, but nothing worked.

The floor around him had a small pool of blood, and his vision was getting blurry.

He knew that he was dying.

Lock started regretting his decision... The decision he made a few years ago.

He was a somewhat not-so-ordinary middle school student. His handsome looks were very popular with the opposite sex, and he had over 10 girlfriends in one year alone, but nothing satisfied him.

He wasn't part of the Martial Arts club either, but he still knew Martial Arts because his father forced him to learn.

His father was quite famous Martial General, and he was happily married to his wife.

They had their first child when both of them were 36 years of age, they lived happily for 10 years, but then...

His father got weaker and weaker each passing second. The First 5 years in the Age of Deterioration is when the power slowly vanishes but after that... It was like the powers leave you like they were running away!

Some of the unlucky ones overnight lost half of their strength!

Lock's father became alcoholic and very depressed after losing his hard-earned strength. He started abusing Lock's mother and his younger siblings.

But... Lock's father forced him to train Martial Arts without stopping. His training was almost torture, which made him hate Martial Arts and his father.

Every day, his parents fought, which made Lock hate loud noises! He only wants peace and quiet.

One day... Lock's father drank too much. He arrived at their home and instantly went into Lock's siblings' rooms. He decided to train them as well.

Lock's mother was greatly against it, and at first, they argued with words, but then it became physical.

Lock watched as his mother was sent flying out of the window from the third floor, and only a splat was heard.

He was at that time 15 years old, his siblings didn't know what happened, but he did...

His mother died in the hands of this monster!

Lock's father didn't care, instead with a grinning face, approached Lock's siblings... But Lock grabbed a knife from the kitchen and pushed it deep inside his father's skull.

Instantly killing him.

The neighbors heard loud noises, so they decided to call the Police, and when they arrived... They saw Lock holding a knife while standing in front of his siblings.

They thought that Lock was the culprit of both kills and decided to kill his siblings too.

His siblings got adopted to somewhere while Lock was locked up in prison.

A few months before the Underworld tournament, someone pulled strings and managed to get Lock freed.

He has only one job.

Win the tournament!

If he wins.... He will be finally free.